Potentiation of immunogenic response

ABSTRACT

An enhanced immune response to antigens, particularly normally weakly-immunogenic viral antigens, such as the HA antigen from influenza virus, is achieved by coadministering the antigen in two different physio-chemical forms, particularly to enable presentation of antigen both by B cells and accessory cells.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/385,587, filed Feb. 8, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,909, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/943,247, filed Sep. 14, 1992, now abandoned.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to vaccination and, in particular, to formulating vaccines so as to achieve an enhanced immunogenic response to an antigen.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Vaccination is a procedure whereby an immune response to an antigen can be achieved to protect a host from infection. Some antigens elicit a strong immune response and some a weak response. Attempts have been made to enhance the immune response of weakly-immunogenic materials. The use of chemical adjuvants achieves such potentiation but generally such materials are toxic chemicals which cannot be used in humans.

Another procedure for achieving potentiation is to conjugate the weakly-immunogenic material to a strongly-immunogenic material and administer the conjugate in a vaccine. For example, a conjugate of the capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae type b to diphtheria toxoid, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,496,538 and 4,619,828, or a conjugate of a weak antigen to a monoclonal antibody targeting antigen-presenting cells, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,480, may be employed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel procedure of vaccination to elicit an enhanced antibody response to an antigen in a naive animal by administering the antigen in at least two different physio-chemical forms. The two different physio-chemical forms of the same antigen are administered simultaneously in a naive animal to achieve the greatest degree of potentiation and may be administered at a single or two injection sites.

In order for the enhanced immune response to be achieved, it is necessary that the animal to which the antigen is coadministered, including humans, be naive, i.e. the animal has not been previously been immunized by a highly-immunogenic form of the antigen. Co-administration of the antigen to a primed animal elicits no enhancement of immune response.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 contain graphical data of HAI titers achieved by various forms of HA antigen in naive guinea pigs, as detailed in Example 1 below;

FIGS. 3 to 5 contain graphical data of IgG anti-HA responses achieved by various forms of HA antigen in guinea pigs, as detailed in Example 2 below;

FIGS. 6 and 7 contain graphical data of HAI titers achieved by various forms of HA antigen in primed guinea pigs, as detailed in Example 3 below; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 contain graphical data of the immune response achieved by various form of OspA in naive mice, as detailed in Example 4 below.

THEORY

While the applicant does not wish to be bound to any specific theory to explain why the present invention is effective in achieving potentiation of an antigenic response by the simultaneous administration of at least two different physio-chemical forms of the antigen, the following theoretical explanation can be made.

It is known that both B cells and accessory cells must present antigens to T-cells to initiate an antibody response to the antigen in naive animals (refs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5). B cells and accessory cells may have preferences for different physio-chemical forms of antigens. These preferences may result from B cells and accessory cells using different mechanisms for internalizing antigens.

B cells internalize antigens via specific binding to their cell surface immunoglobulins (refs. 6, 7) and can present soluble antigens in concentrations as low as 1 ng/ml (ref. 8). Accessory cells, which are macrophages and dendritic cells, on the other hand, internalize antigens by non-specific phagocytizing and pinocytizing the antigens (ref. 9). Macrophages can present soluble antigens if they are at concentrations of approximately 100 μg/ml (ref. 8). other research (ref. 10) has demonstrated that the concentration of soluble antigen needed by macrophages can be decreased by binding the antigen to a particulate structure.

During the generation of an antibody response, B cells and accessory cells present antigens to T-cells at two different stages of T cell activation/differentiation. Research has demonstrated that naive T cells must first interact with antigen presenting accessory cells to become activated helper T cells (refs. 11, 12, 13, 14). The inventors believe that particulate forms of antigens, as employed herein, effectively mediate the accessory cell activation of naive T cells. This interaction, however, is insufficient to induce the B cells to respond to a T cell-dependent antigen. Direct cell-to-cell contact between B cells and activated helper T cells is required for the induction of antibody secretion from B cells (ref. 15). This interaction is mediated by B cells processing and presenting the antigen to activated T cell (ref. 16). This type of B cell-T cell interaction is termed cognate T cell help. The inventors believe that a soluble form of antigen employed herein best mediates B cells interacting with helper T cells.

The order of the two interactions is essential to bring about the required immune response in naive T cells. It has recently been shown that antigen presentation of B cells to naive T cells induces T cell tolerance rather than activation (refs. 2, 3). Since optimal immune responses require efficient antigen presentation by both B cell and accessory cells, such optimal response can be achieved in the present invention by simultaneously administering the antigen in two physio-chemical forms at either one or two sites of injection.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

As stated above, the novel method of achieving potentiated immune response in a naive animal, including humans, to an antigen is to administer the antigen simultaneously in at least two different physio-chemical forms. The invention is broadly applicable to a wide variety of antigens, particularly viral, bacterial, fungal, protozaan and parasite proteins, and is particularly useful with respect to antigens containing protective epitopes that normally exhibit a weak immunogenic response.

Among the viral antigens to which the invention may be applied are the gp120 and gp160 proteins of retroviruses especially HIV, the haemagglutinin antigen of influenza and other viral proteins associated with viral membranes.

The invention is illustrated hereinafter with respect to the haemagglutinin antigen (HA) from influenza virus but it will be apparent from the results given for the HA antigen and the discussion above that the invention has application to a wide range of antigens. Also presented below is data with respect to the immune response to the outer surface protein A (OspA) of the B. burgdorferi spirochete (i.e. a bacterial protein) in different physio-chemical forms. Lipidated OspA is a strong immunogen and hence coadministration with other forms of the OspA generally is not required. However, the results presented show the generality of the procedure.

One particular viral protein to which the invention may be applied is the gp120 protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The gp120 protein of HIV contains protective epitopes but is a poor immunogen. The immune response to gp120 can be potentiated by coadministering gp120 protein with inactivated HIV virions, gp160 or pseudovirions. The gp160 protein is the precursor protein that is proteolytically cleaved to form gp120 and gp40. The gp120 protein normally is associated with HIV virions via gp40. Purified gp120 protein is a soluble protein which is poorly immunogenic while viral particulate and gp160 protein are more immunogenic. Coadministration in accordance with the present invention may achieve an enhanced immune response to the gp120 protein.

The different physio-chemical form of the antigen for coadministration may vary widely, depending on the antigen chosen and the specific antigenic forms of the antigen which might be available. Preferably, the two forms are tailored to provide for antigen presentation both by B cells and by accessory cells to T-cells to initiate antibody response.

For example, one physio-chemical form may be soluble while the other may be insoluble and/or particulate, as in the case of HA antigen. Alternatively, the different physio-chemical form of the antigen may be a lipidated protein and a non-lipidated protein, as in the case of OspA antigen. In addition, the different physio-chemical forms of the antigen may comprise proteins with and without hydrophobic region. Further, the different physio-chemical forms of the antigen may comprise proteins which have been engineered, for example, by genetic engineering or chemical synthesis, to be provided with or without specific epitopes or regions.

EXAMPLES Example 1

This Example demonstrates the effect of coadministration of different physio-chemical forms of the HA antigen from influenza virus.

Several different physio-chemical forms of HA exist, namely HA(p), split HA and inactivated whole virus. HA(p) is a highly purified form of HA that has had its by bromelain cleavage removed and is soluble in water. Split HA is a detergent extracted and partially purified form of the HA antigen. Inactivated whole virus is formalin inactivated whole virus particles.

Split HA and inactivated whole virus are immunogenic in naive animals and humans. HA(p) is not immunogenic in naive animals or infants, even though it is antigenic in antibody-antigen reactions.

There was conducted two series of experiments in which guinea pigs were immunized with various physio-chemical forms of HA from the A/Taiwan influenza strain, alone or in combination, and their responses were measured by haemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titers, HAI titers being known to correlate well with protective immune responses. The results obtained in the experiments were plotted graphically and appear as FIGS. 1 and 2.

In these experiments, the amount of HA(p) was maintained constant (1.0 μg) and the amount of added whole inactivated virus was varied. Of the three amounts of whole inactivated virus employed (1.0 μg, 0.1 μg and 0.01 μg), immune responses were best potentiated by coadministration using 0.1 μg whole inactivated virus, as may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2.

When the titers for this combination were compared to the titers for HA(p) or 0.1 μg whole inactivated virus alone, coadministration potentiated immune responses four to seven fold at two to four weeks after the boost. At the higher dose of 1.0 μg of whole inactivated virus, immune responses to coadministration were equal to the responses to the virus alone, again as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. At the low dose of 0.01 μg whole inactivated virus, the immune response to both coadministration and whole inactivated virus alone were low (see FIG. 2). Since HAI titers correlate well with protective immune responses, these results suggest that coadministration enhances protective immune responses in guinea pigs.

The co-administration of split HA and HA(p) also enhanced anti-HA antibody responses in guinea pigs. Maximal enhancement by coadministration was observed using 0.1 μg of HA(p) and 0.1 μg of split HA, as may be seen from the results of FIGS. 1 and 4. A three- to seven-fold enhancement in HAI titers was observed using these amounts of antigen.

Example 2

In addition to the results obtained in Example 1, antibody responses were analyzed by EIA (ELISA immuno-assay) to determine whether the enhancement of HAI titers by coadministration was related to the total amount of IgG anti-HA antibody generated. In these experiments, HA-e (a highly-purified form of HA that retains its hydrophobic tail) was used to coat the wells of the EIA plate and anti-guinea pig IgG was used as a detecting antibody. The dilution curves of experimental antisera were compared to the dilution curve of a standard guinea pig anti-serum and, on the basis of that comparison, the units of IgG anti-HA were calculated in each sera.

Using the same guinea pig sera, a good correlation was found when the results of the EIA, as seen in FIG. 3, were compared with the results of the HAI, as seen in FIG. 2. These results show that co-administration of the HA in different forms enhances the total amount of IgG generated against HA.

The results of EIA on sera from an experiment using split HA, as seen in FIG. 5, indicated that the increased HAI titers from co-administration were the result of increased amounts of anti-HA antibodies. From the results set forth in Examples 1 and 2, it is apparent that the levels of antibody generated to coadministration with split HA generally were less than those to coadministration with whole inactivated virus, as may be seen from FIG. 1 and a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 4 and FIGS. 3 and 5.

In the experiments reported in Examples 1 and 2, naive animals were used to evaluate coadministration.

Example 3

This example illustrates the effect of coadministration of HA in primed animals.

Guinea pigs were primed with either 1.0 μg of whole inactivated virus (results depicted in FIG. 6) or 1.0 μg of split HA (results depicted in FIG. 7). Three weeks later, the guinea pigs were given secondary immunization of either single flu antigen or coadministered flu antigens. The results shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 indicate that co-administration does not enhance anti-HA results in primed animals and hence the co-administration technique is useful only in naive animals, if an enhanced immune response is to be achieved.

These results also show that the superior antigen for recalling memory responses was HA(p) alone, while immunization with HA(p) at the primary and secondary immunization did not generate a significant immune response. These results show that HA(p) can recall memory immune responses to the HA antigen but cannot itself generate memory. The use of the weakly-immunogenic HA(p) to achieve an enhanced secondary immune response from a HA primed animal forms the subject of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/943,247 filed Sep. 14. 1992 by Becker et al and assigned to the assignee hereof.

Example 4

This Example demonstrates the effect of different physio-chemical forms of the OspA protein of B. burgdorferi spirochete.

OspA lipoprotein (OspA-L) is a very potent immunogen. Removal of the lipid moiety from OspA dramatically decreases its immunogenicity but not its antigenicity, as described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 888,765 filed May 27, 1992, assigned to the assignee hereof and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

A small dose of OspA-L was coadministered to C3H/He mice with a large dose of OspA-NL and the response compared to the responses of OspA-L or OspA-NL alone. The mice were immunized at days 0 and 21 with-the antigens and the mice were bled on day 35. The dilution curves of an ELISA assay of sera from the mice were plotted graphically and the results are shown in FIG. 8. Immune responses also are shown in FIG. 9.

As may be seen from this data, a potentiation of OspA response was achieved by coadministration of OspA-L and Ospa-NL relative to administration of OspA-L or OspA-NL alone.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

In summary of this disclosure, the present invention provides a novel method of obtaining an enhanced immune response to a viral antigen by coadministering the antigen in different physio-chemical forms. Modifications are possible within the scope of this invention.

REFERENCES

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2. "Antigen Presentation in Acquired Immunological Tolerance", Parker et al, The FASEB Journal, Vol. 5, October 1991, pp. 2771-2784.

3. "Do Small B Cells Induce Tolerance", Eynon et al, Transplantation Proceedings, Vol. 23, No 1 (February) 1991: pp. 729-730.

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5. "Role of B Cell Antigen Processing and Presentation in the Humoral Immune Response", Myers, The FASEB Journal, Vol. 5, August 1991, pp. 2547-2553.

6. "Antigen Presentation by Hapten-Specific B Lymphocytes", Abbas et al, J. Immun. Vol. 135, No. 3, Sept. 1985, pp. 1661-1667.

7. "Requirements for the Processing of Antigen by Antigen-Presenting B Cells", Grey et al, J. Immun., Vol. 129, No. 6, Dec. 1982, pp. 2389-2395.

8. "Antigen-Specific B Cells Efficiently Present Low Doses of Antigen for Induction of T Cell Proliferation", Malynn et al, J. Immun. Vol. 135, No. 2, Aug. 1985, pp. 980-987.

9. "Antigen-Presenting Function of the Macrophage", Unanue, Ann. Rev. Immunol., 1985, 2: 395-428.

10. "Analysis of TX Lymphocyte Reactivity to Complex Antigen Mixtures by the Use of Proteins coupled to Latex Beads", Wirbelauer et al, Immun. Letters, 23 (1989/1990),. 257-262.

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What we claim is:
 1. A method of achieving an enhanced immune response to an antigen in a naive animal, wherein a naive animal is an animal which has not been previously immunized by a highly immunogenic form of the antigen, which method comprises:simultaneously administering said antigen to said naive animal in at least two different physio-chemical forms to provide a synergistic immune response to the antigen in the naive animal greater than the immune response to the individual physiochemical forms of the antigen in the naive animal; wherein the antigen is the OspA protein from Borrelia burgdorferi.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said antigen contains epitopes that normally exhibit a weakly-immunogenic response.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said physio-chemical forms favors presentation of the antigen by B cells to T cells in the naive animal and the other of said physio-chemical forms favors presentation of the antigen by accessory cells to T cells in the naive animal.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein one physio-chemical form of antigen is soluble while the other is insoluble and/or particulate.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein one physio-chemical form of antigen is lipidated and the other physio-chemical form is not lipidated.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said different physio-chemical forms of said antigen comprise OspA-L and OspA-NL of Borrelia burgdorferi.
 7. The method of claim 3 wherein one physio-chemical form of antigen is a protein having a hydrophobic region and the other is the protein lacking the hydrophobic region.
 8. The method of claim 3 wherein one physio-chemical form of antigen is a protein engineered to contain a specific epitope and/or region and the other is the protein lacking such specific epitope and/or region.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said naive animal is a human.
 10. An immunological composition for eliciting an immune response to an antigen in a naive animal, including humans, wherein a naive animal is an animal which has not been previously immunized by a highly immunogenic form of the antigen, comprising:a first physio-chemical form of said antigen favoring presentation of the antigen by B cells to T cells in the animal, a second physio-chemical form of said antigen favoring presentation of the antigen by accessory cells to T cells in the animal, and a physiologically-acceptable carrier for said first and second physio-chemical forms of said antigen, whereby an enhanced immune response to said antigen is achieved upon administration of said vaccine to the naive animal in comparison to either of the physio-chemical forms administered alone, wherein said antigen is OspA from Borrelia burgdorferi.
 11. An immunological composition of claim 10 wherein said first physio-chemical form is a soluble form of said antigen and said second physio-chemical form is an insoluble form of said antigen.
 12. An immunological composition of claim 10 wherein one physio-chemical form of antigen is lipidated and the other physio-chemical form is not lipidated.
 13. An immunological composition of claim 10 wherein one physio-chemical form of antigen is a protein having a hydrophobic region and the other is the protein lacking the hydrophobic region.
 14. An immunological composition of claim 10 wherein one physio-chemical form of antigen is a protein engineered to contain a specific epitope and/or region and the other is the protein lacking such specific epitopes and/or regions.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein one physiochemical form of the antigen is a protein engineered to contain a specific epitope and/or region and the other is the protein lacking such specific epitope and/or region.
 16. The immunological composition of claim 10 wherein the different physiochemical forms of the antigen comprise OspA-L and OspA-NL. 